Page 6 of The Baller

No freaking way.

Frat boys did not look like this. Frat boys were not hewn from weathered rock or granite or whatever this guy had been made from. Frat boys did not have lips; pink, full and inviting, or leave me wondering what it would be like to kiss them.

When I finally managed a breath, my senses prickled from the scent permeating the air around us; amber, rich and smoky, reminding me of the time my parents had taken my brothers and me camping in Yellowstone. We’d stayed up all night around the fire, toasting marshmallows and watching the stars. That trip was one of the happiest memories I had.

Frat boys did not smell like happiness.

The longer I stared, I realized that the sparkle in his eyes was from a dozen tiny flecks of emerald among the hazel; brilliant green even under the peak of his ball cap. His rich golden skin was tanned in way that made it clear he spent a lot of time outdoors, contrasting with the way he was dressed – dark wash jeans slung low on his hips, and a pale caramel cable knit sweater had been made for his body, and his alone – and from the brief glimpse of his muscled forearm passingover my shoulder, I knew the watch on his wrist was worth upwards of fifty thousand dollars.

“You’re not supposed to climb the shelves...” All of a sudden, the temperature in Brown’s turned tropical, very near to stifling as his eyes slowly traveled the length of my body and back again. But it wasn’t until he grinned, showing off perfect, straight white teeth and the lighter bronze flecks in his dark beard caught under the harsh strip lights, that my heart nearly stopped. Or maybe the beat had moved between my legs, “…even if you are vertically challenged.”

My mouth dropped open; that voice – a deep baritone vibrating over my skin caused tiny electrical pulses, bringing me to life.Backto life.

He peered at the spine as he handed the book to me, one thick eyebrow raised with what looked like approval. “Good choice.”

I’d been managing full sentences since I was two years old. I spoke three languages, and yet not one word inanylanguage seemed to form in my brain as we stood there staring at each other.

“Okaaaay then.”

The stranger turned to leave, right as Jake appeared at the end of the row.

“Radley?”

And now I wasn’t the only one staring at the mystery guy, although the way Jake was staring made me think he wasn’t imagining him naked like I was. No, Jake was pissed, but trying not to show it. The guy walked right past with barely a second glance, and definitely didn’t care that Jake was using the seconds to study his body language, memorize his face, ascertain his threat level…

Jake stayed where he was until the guy disappeared, thenhis strides ate up the plush carpet and he was standing in front of me with a frown. I was still on the stool, and almost eye level. Jake always seemed tall to me, hewastall, but even on the stool I’d had to look up at the mystery guy.

“We should go if you don’t want to be late for your class. Do you want to buy that?”

I looked down at my hands, holding the book I’d failed to remove from the shelves.

Don Quixote.

“No,” I replied with a shake of my head. “No. Could you put it back, please? I can’t reach.”

Jake took it from me and returned it to the gap it had left.

“Let’s go. Millie’s at the register buying half the store,” he grumbled.

I followed him silently until we reached the doors. Silent – except for one large groan.

I might not have bought a book, but I didn’t leave the store empty handed; I was now the owner of a fresh bump to my head from walking into a bookshelf.

Because that’s what happens when you pay more attention to the whereabouts of mystery guys than watching where you’re going.

TWO

LUX

What the fuckwas I doing in here?

I pondered on that while slowly sipping my beer, and glanced over to Ace who seemed to be wondering the exact same thing as he stared at the condensation dripping down his bottle.

On second thoughts, I’d bet my watch collection he was still thinking about an article in Cosmo he’d been reading this morning, titledThe Sex Angle You’ve Never Tried, because he hadn’t stopped talking about it all day.

He'd been talking about it so much I could probably try it, without ever having read it. I could probably find someone in here to try it with. Better yet, if I could guarantee that girl was still in Brown’s, I’d sprint back there right now and try it with her.

In fact, I’d take every edition of Cosmo and lock us away for a month.

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